[Mithlas]

There's only so much that you're going to do and see a mechanics difference in the performance of cyberware, whether you're looking at things from a strictly game-crunch-perspective or more fluff-perspective. Diminishing Marginal Returns.

[Longshot23]

Cyberzombie built with Standard Grade ware, as opposed to Delta grade ware?

[Reaver]

Cyberzombie built with Standard Grade ware, as opposed to Delta grade ware?

No, I mean just how far can you push the fleshy bits of the system performance wise.

Take something simple say, like your bicep. Just how much muscle augments can you infuse into the muscle (or replace the muscle) before you actually have to worry about snapping the bone? And once you get down to replacing the bone and the muscle, are we not basically talking about a cyber arm?

I am saying that it is because of this "natural" built in ceiling of just how far you can push the meat that really limits the SOTA = Alpha/beta/delta theory.

Things are made for mass production, this is what keeps costs down (Standard ware)

If you want to pay a little more, and wait a little longer, a cyber tech can customize the basic option to better if your physology (Alpha Ware)

If you really have some cash, and the time, a Cyber Specialist can take a generic Cyber system and custom tweak it even better. throw in an advanced surgical suite, Custom drugs and care, and now you are cooking! (Beta ware)

If you have sold your soul, or just really pissed off the rich and powerful, you may be on the receiving end (one way or the other) of Cyber ware custom designed around your physiology, matched with the best surgical doctors, meds and care! (delta ware) 


Hence why there is no "yearly implant bonus" or modifiers, the tech is the best it, in and of itself, is the best it can be for use by the general masses, and probably has been for years. The Grades involve matching the cyber more efficiently to your personal self and/or much better quality in overall medical care. Your general Street doc might be able to install Alpha level ware... But Beta? Delta?

[Emperors Grace]

Take something simple say, like your bicep. Just how much muscle augments can you infuse into the muscle (or replace the muscle) before you actually have to worry about snapping the bone? And once you get down to replacing the bone and the muscle, are we not basically talking about a cyber arm?

This reminds me of the old story example in 2nd (Shadowtech, maybe) where the guy  with two cyberarms of immense strength tries to lift a car and has them both rip off at the shoulder.

The flesh will always limit the chrome.

[HarshRhettoric]

Alpha and beta appeared in Shadowtech.  Delta and cultured bioware were in Cybertechnology.  Also: in 2nd, you could reduce the essence loss from implants by up to 20% depending on the skill/successes of the surgeon.

[Tarislar]

Alpha and beta appeared in Shadowtech.  Delta and cultured bioware were in Cybertechnology.  Also: in 2nd, you could reduce the essence loss from implants by up to 20% depending on the skill/successes of the surgeon.

Actually Alpha/Beta were in Street Samurai Guide.
Bioware came out in Shadowtech.  To include cultured IIRC.

Deltaware, which I was wondering about,  is in Cybertechnology.

Interesting that we went from Alpha to Delta in 5 years but seem to have capped for the last 20 now.
You would think they would have found something better.
Though, the cost dropping certainly makes it seem like what is here is easier to get.

[SlowDeck]

It's probably a technology plateau. You see this a lot in real-world tech; it will advance rapidly for a period of time, and then suddenly stop advancing for a period of time due to lack of ability to advance it farther. Then some discovery is made and it either advances or gets left behind. The electronics industry in particular is prone to it; most of the "advancements" they make are just refinements and clever uses of existing tech until a discovery comes along that allows them to race forward again.

[The Wyrm Ouroboros]

Pretty much the latter.  Deltaware's prices and availability is a bump in the road compared to the massive block that they used to be.

[Mithlas]

It's probably a technology plateau. You see this a lot in real-world tech; it will advance rapidly for a period of time, and then suddenly stop advancing for a period of time due to lack of ability to advance it farther. Then some discovery is made and it either advances or gets left behind. The electronics industry in particular is prone to it; most of the "advancements" they make are just refinements and clever uses of existing tech until a discovery comes along that allows them to race forward again.

This is actually something you see a lot if you look at technology and history. Railroads and telegraph lines were both growing at an exponential rate and were predicted to continue doing so without end. Obviously this was not the case (though you could argue that modern telecommunications lines just replaced telegraph lines and networks, that's not the same thing). "Processors will double in power every x amount of time" was another prediction that is already becoming as inconsistent as nuclear isotopes and will likely not hold out the next 50 years simply due to the economics of what's necessary to double capacity or power and the returns for doing so.

That being said, I'd just like the forgotten "gamma" to get put (back) in somewhere. If you're going to use Greek letters, might as well use the proper sequence.

[Tarislar]

That being said, I'd just like the forgotten "gamma" to get put (back) in somewhere. If you're going to use Greek letters, might as well use the proper sequence.

Hmm.
I noticed that Beta is now 70% essence but when it first came out it was 60%.
Ergo.
Gamma = 60% Essence.

TA DA !!!!